BURROUGHS HIGH — The tradition continues.
Under Coach Mike Kodama, the Burroughs High boys’ soccer program has had a fine tradition of turning out All-CIF Southern Section athletes.
Prior to this past season, Indians players had garnered 21 of the top awards since 1992.
Because of Burroughs’ success during the 2007-08 campaign, the program has been recognized with two more All-CIF (now called the All-L.A. 84 Team) selections.
Junior forward Luis Felix was recognized on the Division III second team and junior defender Gilen Guenther was named to the third team.
“It is a really great honor for both of the guys,” Kodama said. “They both helped us out a lot this season, and they deserved it.”
The players helped Burroughs (18-7-2) enjoy a prosperous season. The Indians’ biggest accomplishment was capturing the Pacific League championship, going 10-1-1 in the program’s second season in the league. It was the Indians’ first league crown in 10 years, when they won a title in the Foothill League.
“The good thing about Luis and Gilen is they are both able to step up and help control a game,” Kodama said. “They both are very talented players and they have a great deal of skill.”
Kodama said Felix is a player who has the versatility to score goals or set up goals depending on the situation.
He led the Indians with 16 goals and nine assists. He was most potent during Pacific League play, scoring seven goals. In addition, he created numerous scoring opportunities for teammates Derek Olson (eight goals), Andrew An (seven goals) and Armando Gutierrez (six goals).
“Because of his athletic ability and his skills, most of the opposing teams usually put their best player on him, or he draws a crowd when he touches the ball,” Kodama said. “He really created a lot of opportunities for our other guys, and he helped set them up.”
Guenther cemented himself as the iron man of the program this past season. He set a record for most minutes played in a season, surpassing the record he set during the 2006-07 campaign as a sophomore.
He started all 27 of Burroughs’ contests and holds the school record for starting 52 straight matches over a two-year period.
“The great thing about Gilen is his durability,” Kodama said. “We use him a lot as an attacking defender, and he can move the ball so well. He is also a very hard worker who is all over the field for us.”
Not only did Guenther provide a strong defensive presence with his ability at stopping the other team’s attack, but he was a creative offensive weapon, crossing balls into the box, dribbling past opponents and scoring goals. He ended with five goals and five assists.
Guenther’s scoring was the best offensive effort by a Burroughs defender since 1994, when Gilen’s oldest brother, Gret, scored eight goals to earn All-CIF honors.
